Faith that Heals

When Jesus walked the earth, He healed in different ways. There were also numerous ways by which people came to Him for healing.

Shining out among those who were healed are some of visionary faith. Faith that helped them receive their healing.

They believed beyond their vision at that time. Some also recognized Christ as Messiah. Christ’s perception of their condition was beyond the physical. He acknowledged and honored their faith and spiritual perception.

Jairus Requests

A synagogue leader, he bows before Jesus and believes His touch could even raise the dead despite skepticism. Jesus raises his daughter from the dead.

Woman Reaches

A woman with a condition perpetually unclean by Jewish law could not touch or be touched. She braves the crowd and silently touches the hem of Jesus’ garment, believing that that could bring her healing.

Jesus says, “Daughter, your faith has made you whole.”

“Whole” or “safe” in older 14th-century Wycliffe versions implies the person is safe and secure from any spiritual or physical harm. The Syriac says that “her life force was restored to a full state.”

Blind Men Recognize

They recognize Jesus as the prophesied Messiah, and Jesus tells them, “Let it be done according to your faith.” They are already acquiring spiritual vision; with that, physical vision is given.

Demon Possessed Man Requires Help

Matthew 9:32-34 covers two categories of people in serious difficulty – the ‘demon-possessed man’ and the ‘spiritually blind’ Pharisees. Neither can help themselves. Jesus could help one; the others were largely beyond recovery, as they didn’t even realize they needed healing.

Some cannot help themselves whom God puts in our reach. We can connect them to God and enable them to get healing.

What areas do we need to be raised, received, be restored? Commit them with silent prayer in faith.

Christ’s Commission

The commission of Jesus is to heal the sick, open blind eyes, set free prisoners, raise the dead, etc. (Isaiah 61:1,2).

This also has a spiritual accent which Matthew highlights earlier in his gospel.

Christ demonstrates physical healing as a sign that He is the Messiah and capable of spiritual healing – it is a means, not the end.

Today, the faith bar is much higher. Many people are deluded, thinking the ultimate prize is stretching their faith to get physical healing. Not everyone gets that. But everyone can receive spiritual healing. Jesus seeks faith for spiritual healing in us and those around us. Christ did not come only to heal but to save and make “whole.”